25.02.2017, 06:50
PSG and Veszprém win but Kiel upset by Bjerringbro

GROUP A REVIEW: Paris have problems with Kadetten for 40 minutes, while Bjerringbro earn a surprise win at Kiel to stay in the hunt for a Last-16 ticket.

PSG and Veszprém win but Kiel upset by Bjerringbro

THW Kiel remain far below par in the current VELUX EHF Champions League group phase. The German record champions were defeated 21:24 by Bjerringbro Silkeborg on home ground on Saturday.

The result meant the Danish team can still can stop Plock’s way to the Last 16 after the Polish side lost 31:25 at Veszprém.

Without Nikola Karabatic, Paris Saint-Germain had problems with Schaffhausen for 40 minutes but in the end took a clear 34:26 win, which ended even Kadetten's mathematical hope for a Last-16 ticket.

• For the first time in the history of the EHF Champions League Group Phase, Kiel have lost three home matches in one season – and still have the duel with Barcelona ahead

• Since 21 October 2016 Bjerringbro had not taken a single point in a VELUX EHF Champions League match

• BSV goalkeeper Sören Rasmussen saved 55 percent of all THW shots

• Momir Ilic was Veszprém’s top scorer in the expected home win against Plock

• Plock are only two points ahead of BSV – and have matches against PSG and Barcelona coming up

• PSG remain unbeaten at home since losing 25:27 to Kiel on 16 November 2014

• Former PSG centre back Gabor Czaszar was top scorer of the day with 10 goals for Schaffhausen

GROUP A:

Telekom Veszprém (HUN) vs Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 31:25 (18:14)

An experienced trio secured the next win for Veszprém: Momir Ilic (seven goals), Laszlo Nagy (6) and Cristian Ugalde (5) were the key to their sixth victory in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase.

Thanks to this win, Veszprém consolidated the third rank, while Plock missed the chance to book their Last-16 ticket.

A change of goalkeepers in the middle of the first half helped Veszprém forge ahead to an 18:14 half-time lead.

On the same level

Before, Plock were at least on the same level and even were in lead early on. In a match with a huge number of suspensions already before the break, Plock missed too many chances.

Veszprém went three goals ahead (14:11) as Momir Ilic was on fire, netting four goals from four attempts before the break. The biggest margin in the first half was five goals (17:12) as both sides only focused on attack from 9:8 on.

The hosts stayed ahead until the end though Plock reduced the gap to two goals (22:20) with 10 minutes to go.

After the break, both defences improved but Veszprém additionally kept their efficiency in attack.

Best Plock scorers were Sime Ivic and Dmitry Zhitnikov by four goals each.

Post-match statements:

Xavi Sabaté, Veszprém coach: "The key for today’s victory was the defence. Nilsson, Laci, Timu, Terza and the others did a great job helping Mikler in the goal. Our fast breaks were good, Marguc and Ugalde played well today. In attack we played as a team. When players like Nagy and Ilic are fit this is the way we can play."

László Nagy, Veszprém right back: "I expected this kind of play from Orlen Wisla Plock. They have good and young players. It is uncomfortable to play against their defence. Their players collaborate well with the goalkeeper. I am happy about the 31 goals we scored, we had easy fast-break goals."

Piotr Przybecki, Plock coach: "Our defence was not very good in the first half, (conceding) 18 goals is too much. We tried to get better but we could not. We were not good enough today. We gave everything today. Our young players can travel back home with the experience of playing in Veszprém."

Mateusz Piechowski, Plock line player: "We could have been better in one-against-one situations. We had easy mistakes, we should be better in defence. This night Veszprém was better than us."

THW Kiel (GER) vs. Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) 21:24 (11:10)

After losing at home against Veszprém in Round 11, THW Kiel showed an even weaker performance on home ground – and were sensationally defeated by Bjerringbro, who even had to replace their wing Johan Hansen.

Match winner was former Flensburg goalkeeper Sören Rasmussen, who saved 55 percent of Kiel’s shots.

“This is an incredible feeling. I guess this is the biggest result in the history of our club. Since October we did not win any point in the Champions League, now we have our fate in our hands as we grabbed this great chance,” said Ramussen, who became the hero with four crucial saves in the final minutes.

“Now everything is possible in terms of making it to the Last 16,” Rasmussen said.

Kiel had the better start, led 4:1 and 9:5, before BSV strengthened their defence and put more pressure on the three-time EHF Champions League winners.

Like against Veszprém, Kiel missed too many chances and were too far away from their opponents in defence.

Bjerringbro, led by line player Michael V. Knudsen with seven goals, grabbed their chances and reduced the gap goal by goal to the half-time score of 11:10.

When goalkeeper Rasmussen improved, BSV equalized for the first time right after the break. Until the score of 18:17 in minute 47, Kiel had the upperhand, but in the end gave the match from their hands.

The biggest surprise

The 18:19 was the first lead for the Danish team. Until minute 55 (21:22) everything was still open before Knudsen and Jacob Lassen scored the decisive goals for the biggest surprise of Bjerringbro’s Champions League history.

“Sören Rasmussen was simply brilliant, and we made too many mistakes, mainly in the second half. I am sad and negatively surprised but life goes on,” THW team captain and best scorer (4) Domagoj Duvnjak said.

Left back Nykola Bilyk agreed: “BSV deserved to win, as we were far below our regular level, mainly in attack.”

Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) vs. Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) 34:26 (17:16)

After their elimination from the domestic league cup by Montpellier (28:34), Paris Saint-Germain again had problems to find their rhythm against Kadetten - for 40 minutes.

In contrast to the 34:33 at Flensburg last weekend, Mikkel Hansen was in the PSG squad, but this time another two-time World Handball Player of the Year was missing, Nikola Karabatic.

Without one of their masterminds, Paris faild to play role as favourites against the unexpectedly strong Swiss champions.

Early timout did not stop the downswing

Schaffhausen even took the lead (7:6) and remained ahead until 11:10. Even an early timeout from PSG coach Noka Serdarusic did not stop the downswing.

The match remained on the edge. Paris replaced goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer with Gorazd Skof after only 20 minutes, and the margin at the break was only one goal in favour of the hosts.

Former PSG centre back Gabor Csaszar took his responsibility on Kadetten side and could not be stopped by the Paris defence. He ended on 10 goals for the match to become the second-ranked top scorer in this season's VELUX EHF Champions League with 71 goals.

When the Hungarian international made it 22:21 in minute 40, his side even had the chance to go level again. But after they missed three straight chances, the momentum changed.

Six straight goals in seven minutes

Six straight goals within seven minutes to go 28:21 up decided the encounter. While Skof at one point was on 50 percent saved shots, Paris scored easily now.

Uwe Gensheimer made it 28:21 with his sixth and last goal, and 69th of the season. Gensheimer is now third on the top scorer list -  three behind Magnus Bramming (72) from already-eliminated Holstebro, and two behind Csaszar.

The biggest margin in the one-sided last 15 minutes was nine goals. Like Gensheimer, Hansen netted six times for Paris.

TEXT: Björn Pazen / ew